Hi everyone!
My name is El McCabe and I am humbled to be your 2025 Division 44 President. As a newly minted psychologist, I had made it a goal for myself to run for the presidency at some point during my career after loving my work in 44 over the last few years. Little did I know that the opportunity to run would present itself so quickly and during a time in my life when I could reasonably take up the mantle of the office.
In terms of my goals for the presidency, I hope to accomplish the following:
- Increase the number of early career psychologists in leadership positions in our division. I believe this will help with retention of ECP’s, which has been an issue in our division over the last several years.
- Improve organization and communication within Division 44 leadership operations (i.e. streamlining on-boarding processes for newly elected members, better navigating diffusion of responsibility with incoming emails/requests, etc.) to improve efficiency and speed of communications with membership.
- Start a task force to craft a formal apology to LGBTQ+ folx on behalf of APA (inspired by the 2023 APA apology to indigenous folksopens in new window). The task force will be charged with researching the harm caused by the profession of psychology to LGBTQ+ individuals, writing the apology, and bringing it to Council for a vote on whether or not APA will formally adopt the apology.
- Send out monthly activism “action items” to the division membership via the listserv. These items will be completely optional and simply serve as a way of prioritizing activism in the division.
- Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Division 44! Stay tuned for details on this initiative.
Given our current socio-political climate, I would be remiss to not mention how consequential the next few years will be for our membership, families, clients, and community. Though it will undoubtedly be challenging at times, especially with the high stakes of the American presidential election, I am looking forward to leading the division through uncertainty and having us emerge stronger than ever.
Please feel free to reach out to me during the next year and a half if you want to be involved in any of the aforementioned initiatives. Take it from me- it is never too early to get involved in something you feel passionate about.
Eleanor "El" McCabe, PhD
Division 44 President 2024